Egg-crate.



J. D. RIPSON.

Patendsept. 5,1916.

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JOI-IN D. RIPSON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

EGG-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed January 14, 1915. Serial No. 2,263.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN D. RirsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg- Crates, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of this invention is to provide a .new and improved form of egg crate for the storage and shipment of eggs. This and other objects of the invention will be fully illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner part of the crate opened for the reception of eggs therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inner part of the crate closed, it being shown partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outer part or covering of the crate with the inner part -of the crate sealed therein. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the butt end 0f the outer part of the crate. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the inner part of my improved crate made in duplex, or having double capacity and shown open for the reception of eggs therein. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the duplex crate, the inner part being closed and partly inserted in the cover. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of my improved crate of a still larger size. Fig. 8 is a reduced side elevation of a modified form of the outer tube in which the outer ends of the tube are sealed and the tube is divided transversely.

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates the inner or cellular part of my improved egg crate, which inner part is made up of a top 2 and bottom 3, each having a semi-circular or semi-oval cross section and separatedfrom each other along horizontal lines and connected on one side by the hinge 4. Both the top and bottom are divided at suitable intervals into pockets or cells by the partitions 6, 6 which are placed in the bottom and top in line with each, which partitions have shouldered ends that engage with end of the top portion 2. Shoulders or lugs 20, 20 are 'placed on the opposite sides of these end pieces which interlock with suitable recesses in the top and bottom portions 2 and 3. v y

On the top portion 2 arey .placed the lugs or braces 11 which support the upper portion of the ends 7 and 8 and hold them in place against end pressure when the top portion 2 is closed on the bottom portion 3.

The unit of the crate is made preferably with an oval transverse section although if preferred it can be made with a circular cross section, the oval section being regarded as more desirable so that each egg will rest on end in its cell or pocket and will be held in upright position.

Y The sections are made of any desired length but preferably of suflicient length to hold six eggs in one row, and after the eggs are placed therein the top is swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the inner portion of the crate is then ready for insertion into the outer part or cover of the crate, which part is indicated at 9 at Figs. 3 and 4i. This outer part is a tube slightly larger than the inner part, preferably closed at one end 12 as shown in Fig. 4t, and is open at the other'end to receive therein the inner'part of the crate as is shown in Fig. 3, and after the inner part of the crate is inserted therein the two parts may be sealed together -by a seal 10 such as is shownin Fig. 3.

To permit the easy removal of the inner part of the crate from the outer part of the crate, at the butt end of the crate 12, as shown in Fig. 4L, is provided with an opening 13 through which the finger orthumb can be inserted for the purpose of pushing the inner part of the crate out.

The tube 9, constituting the outer part of the crate will have sufficient stiffness or strength to hold its shape against outward pressure and both parts of the crate, both inner and outer, are intended to be made of paper products or equivalent material.

As shown in Fig. 5 the crate may be made with a plurality of parallel rows of pockets or cells, all contained in a single outer tube, each of which rows will be in all respects like a single row of pockets shown in Fig. 1, the parallel sections of the .bottom row, however, being rigid with respect to each other and the parallel sections of the top row being also preferably rigid with respect to each other, the top 15 being hinged to the bottom 16 along the line 17. The cover or outer part 18 for the double crate is shown in Fig. 6 with the inner part 0f the crate partly inserted therein.

In Fig. 7 I have shown four rows of pooliets arranged in a single cover 19, the part constituting the two upper rows of pockets or the two lower rows of pockets being each substantially the same as the part containing the two rows o-f pockets shown in Fig. 5.

The adjacent end pieces and the adjacent division pieces of the two or more rows of pockets of the upper and lower parts of the crate, as shown in Fig. 5, are each made in one piece, adding to the stiffness and strength of the construction, and the lower half of the inner part of the crate is bent up from asingle sheet of stock forming two or more parallel troughs which are integral with each other at their adjacent edges, which troughs are divided into cells or pool;- ets by the interlocking cross pieces. The upper half of the inner part of the crate, as shown in Fig. 5, is formed in like manner, and the upper and lower parts are hinged together on one side so that the partitions of the upper and lower parts are held in line with each other when the inner crate is open or shut;

It is obvious that whether the inner tube is made up of a single row of cells or a plurality of rows of cells contained in the outer tube, the invention is the saine, all forms being included within the scope of my invention.

The outer tube may be divided transversely into two parts, one of which would be slipped over one end of the inner tube and the other over the other end. of the inne tube and in such case the outer ends of the outer tube would be closed and the inner abutting ends would be left open and the two parts of the outer tube would be connected when in place on the inner tube by a seal placed over the abutting ends con- .tube being divided longitudinally with one of the parts thereof provided with permanent heads and the other part being devoid of heads, each o-f said parts of the inner tube having matching portions of transverse partitions which divide said parts into cells or pockets.

2. in egg ease consisting of an outer integral tube, an inner tube divided longitudinally with one part thereof adapted to open and close relatively to the other part, one of the parts of the inner tube having perinanent ends and the other part of said inner tube being devoid of ends and both of said parts having matching portions of transverse partitions which divide the interior of the inner tube into cells or pockets, said outer tube having a head at one end and being open at the opposite end, and a seal extending across the open end of the outer tube and across the corresponding end of the inner tube.

3. An egg case consisting of an outer integral tube and an inner tube, said inner tube being divided longitudinally with one of the parts thereof provided with permanent heads and the other part being devoid of heads, each of said parts of the inner tube hzwing'matching portions of transverse partitions which'divide said parts into cells or pockets said headless portion of the inner tube having braces for supporting exposed portions of the heads of the companion piece.

1n testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN D. RIPSON. lVitnesses Fino IsoHrNGnn,

EDNA K. BOOTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commssioner'of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

